Becker



Aug. 6, 1963 a. BECKER CHANGE-COMPUTING CASH REGISTER Original FiledFeb. 5. 1961 17 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 6, 1963 a. BECKER CHANGE-COMPUTINGCASH REGISTER Original Filed Feb. 3. 1961 17 Sheets-Sheet 2 UIU a i n1963 G. BECKER Re. 25,431

CHANGE-COMPUTING CASH REGISTER Original Filed Feb. 3. 1961 17Sheets-Sheet I5 1963 e. BECKER Re. 25,431

CHANGE-COMPUTING CASH REGISTER Original Filed Feb 3. 1961 17Sheets-Sheet 4 Aug. 6, 1963 cs. BECKER CHANGE-COMPUTING CASH REGISTEROriginal Filed Feb. 3, 1961 17 Sheets-Sheet 5 Aug. 6, 1963 a. BECKERCHANGE-COMPUTING CASH REGISTER l'T Sheets-Sheet 6 Original Filed Feb. 5,1961 Aug. 6, 1963 s. BECKER CHANGE-COMPUTING CASH REGISTER OriginalFiled Feb. 3, 1961 17 Sheets-Sheet 7 MHFUHHH 0 a i a -Q W I!!! 6, 1963G. BECKER Re. 25,431

CHANGECOMPUTING CASH REGISTER Original Filed Feb. 3. 1961 1'?Sheets-Sheet 8 6, 1963 G. BECKER Re. 25,431

CHANGE-COMPUTING CASH REGISTER Original Filed Feb. 5, 1961 17Sheets-Sheet 9 6, 1963 G. BECKER Re. 25,431

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CHANGE-COMPUTING CASH REGISTER Original Filed Feb. 5. 1961 17Sheets-Sheet 13 a. BECKER Re. 25,431

CHANGE-COMPUTING CASH REGISTER l7 Sheets-Sheet 14 Aug. 6, 1963 OriginalFiled Feb. 5. 1961 m g trmml&\w x.

Aug. 6, 1963 G. BECKER Re. 25,431

CHANGECOMPUTING CASH REGISTER Original Filed Feb. 3, 1961 1'7Sheets-Sheet 15 Aug. 6, 1963 e. BECKER CHANGECOMPUTING CASH REGISTER l7Sheets-Sheet 16 Original Filed Feb. 3, 1961 Aug. 6, 1963 e. BECKERCHANGE-COMPUTING CASH REGISTER Original Filed Feb. 5, 1961 1'7Sheets-Sheet 1"! a? w m M m 6 V United States Patent Claims priority,application Germany Feb. 6, 1960 Claims. (Cl. 235-2) Matter enclosed inheavy brackets appears in the original patent but forms no part of thisreissue specification; matter printed in italics indicates the additionsmade by reissue.

My invention relates to cash registers that compute, indicate and printamounts of change as constituted by the difference between the amountdue and the amount tendered.

In a known change-computing cash register the machine-run releasing keyswhose actuation causes entering the posted amount tendered and computingits difference from the amount due, are mutually interlocked to securethe proper constrained sequence of registering operations. Theseoperations, for example, comprise entering of posted transaction items,totalizing the entered items, entering the amount tendered by thecustomer, and determining the amount of change as the difference betweenthe amount totalized and the amount tendered.

The interlocking mechanism for the many keys and levers in such amachine is comparatively complicated, susceptible to trouble, andexpensive. Undesirably much attention is required of the attendantpersonnel because it is inevitable in rush-hour business that one mayattempt to depress a wrong release key which, being blocked, cannot beactuated so that the attendant must consider whether another release keyis to be depressed, whether the amount tendered is sufiicient, orwhether perhaps the machine is defective.

It is an object of my invention to obviate or greatly minimize suchshortcomings. More specifically, it is an object of the invention tosimplify the keyboard and control devices of change-computing cashregisters and to thereby also simplify the requirements put upon theatrtcntion of the attendant personnel.

My invention is based upon a cash register of the known type in which atotal key, when depressed causes totalization of previously enteredtransaction items, and in which a computing device effects indicatingand printing an amount of change as the difference between the totalizedpositive amount due from the customer and the posted and negativelyentered amount of payment made by the customer. Relating to suchchangecomputing cash registers, and in accordance with a feature of myinvention, I provide one and the same control key for not only releasinga totalizing machine run to indicate the amount due, but for alsoreleasing a change computing machine run to form the diflercnce betweenthe amounts entered into the machine as positive or regative entries. Ifurther provided the machine With control means that are connected withthe computer mechanisms of the machine and are controlled by the onecontrol key above mentioned to differently operate the computermechanism as regards side selection (positive or negative addingperformance) and mode selection (drawing a subtotal as the amount due,and drawing a total or ultimate balance as indicative of the amount ofchange).

Such a control of the change-computing mechanism permits the attendantto release a totalizing run by always depressing one and the samecontrol key, regardless of Whether the machine run to be released servesto draw a total of a multiple-item transaction or to draw an "iceultimate balance, i.e. the amount of change to be returned to thecustomer, and regardless of whether the amount tendered by the customerand posted into the machine is equal to, or larger than, the totalizedamount due.

It is another object of the invention to further simplify the operationof the change-computing cash register in the event of a transactionwhere the amount tendered is equal to the totalized amount of theentered items. To this end, and in accordance with another feature of myinvention, I provide the machine with means that afiord terminating theregistering operation by depressing, immediately after drawing thesubtotal of the transaction, a sum (total) key without the necessity offirst posting the tendered amount into the machine. This facilitates theattendants activities and expedites serving the customer. With such amachine, depending upon the circumstances of a particular transaction, anumber of multiple-item entering runs of the machine can be terminateddirectly by depressing the ultimate sum (total) key as in conventionalcash registers without change-computing devices; orwhen the customertenders a larger amount than the one due-machine performance can firstbe continued by posting and entering the amount tendered beforeobtaining the change computation by again depressing the same ultimatetotal key.

For further simplification of the control-key field of change-computingcash registers and their control devices, and in accordance with anotherfeature of my invention, I provide not only a single control key forreleasing different (subtotalizing, totalizing or change-computing)machine runs, but I also let the same key serve for controlling furthermachine runs, namely amount-entering, subtotalizing and totalizing runs,in dependence upon the (positive or negative) position of the add-submechanism and in dependence upon the setting of the amountposting keys.

According to still another feature of the invention, the cash registeris provided with identifying means which differently identify, byindication and printing, the various amounts drawn from the computingmechanisms, one and the same control key being always used for releasingsuch totalizing and identifying operations.

The foregoing and other objects, advantages and features, said featuresbeing more specifically set forth in the claims annexed hereto, will beapparent from, and will be further explained in, the followingdescription of the embodiments of the invention illustrated by way ofexample on the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a change-computing cash register.

FIG. 2 is a top view of its keyboard.

FIG. 3 shows a bank of amount-posting keys in a lateral view togetherwith a partly sectional view of the devices of the machine.

FIG. 4 is a partly sectional side view of the indicating and printingmechanisms of the machine.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of one of the transfer(differential) mechanisms.

FIG. 6 is a partly sectional side view of the modecontrolling key bankand the control mechanisms controlled by the change computer.

FIG. 7 shows partly in section the central device for selecting thepositive and negative (additive and sub tractive) sides of the changecomputer.

FIG. 8 is a rear view of the change-computer assembly.

FIG. 9 shows a detail of the mode-control devices.

FIGS. l0, l1 and 12 illustrate details of the computerside selectordevice according to FIGS. 7 and 8.

FIG. 13 is a side View of the computer-side selector device.

FIG. 14 is a cross section along the line A-B in FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a cross section along the line C-D in FIG. 13.

FIG. 16 shows a detail of the adding-mechanism selector device.

FIGS. 17 and 18 show respective examples of checks issued by the cashregister.

FIGS. 19 and 20 are perspective views of slide members that form part ofthe computer mechanism of FIGS. 13 to 15.

FIGS. 21 to 30 relate to another embodiment, FIG. 21 being a top view ofthe keyboard of the machine.

FIG. 22 is a side view of one of the amount-control sliders of themachine.

FIG. 23 shows in perspective the control and resetting shaft of themachine.

FIG. 24 is a cross section along the line EF in FIG. 23.

FIG. 25 is a cross section along the line GH in FIG. 23.

FIG. 26 shows another control slider in a lateral view.

FIG. 27 is a lateral view of still another control slider.

FIG. 28 is a lateral view onto the feeler device of the mode-control keybank.

FIG. 29 illustrates a portion of the plus-minus selector device for thechange computer.

FIG. 30 shows an example of a check issued by the machine according toFIGS. 21 to 29.

While the invention is not limited to any particular made or model ofchange-computing business machines, the machines shown on the drawingsand described below are generally in accordance with knownchange-computing cash registers made and sold by Anker-Werke A.G.,Bielefeld, Germany. With respect to certain component subassernblies,such as the keyboard assembly, the transfer mechanisms (also calleddilferential mechanisms), addingsubtracting change computers (add-submechanism), indicating devices, check-printing and issuing devices andcash-drawer mechanisms, the cash registers described herein embodyfeatures and subassernblies known from, or previously disclosed in,Patents No. 2,579,535, No. 2,690,- 710, No. 2,650,023, No. 2,784,66, andapplications Serial No. 635,713, filed January 23, 1957 by G. Becker eta1., Serial No. 24,485, filed April 25, 1960 by G. Becker et 211.,Serial N0. 24,486, filed April 25, 1960 by G. Becker, Serial No. 67,438,filed November 4, 1960 by G. Becker. Nevertheless, many of these knowncomponents, some of them modified for the purposes of the presentinvention, are also shown on the accompanying drawings and are describedbelow because they are necessary in conjunction with the presentinvention or forming part of its immediate environment.

The cash register according to FIGS. 1 through 20 is of a type commonlyemployed in stores. It is equipped with a keyboard 1 whose base plateforms part of the machine housing 2. (FIG. 1), counting and calculatingmechanisms, a mechanism for printing sales checks and issuing themthrough an opening 2a, a cash drawer 2b which opens automatically uponcompletion of a machine run or depression of a NO SALE key. Alsoprovided is an indicator 2c on which the posted and registered amountsare visible. The Working parts of the cash register, enclosed in thehousing and partly located beneath the keyboard 1, are actuated undercontrol by the particular keys depressed by the cashier or salesman inaccordance with the business transaction to be registered. For thispurpose, the keyboard 1 comprises an amount-posting portion 5 (FIGS. 1,2) with a decimal group of amount keys 6 arranged in a plurality ofvertical key banks for the respective digits. The keyboard 1 furthercomprises a bank 3 for selectively controlling the desired mode ofoperation. Another key bank 4 permits the selection of addingmechanisms. The keys in this bank control the entering of individualposted amounts into selected special totalizers for classes of goods orservices sold. In the illustrated cash register there are specialtotalizers for sales of meat, vegetables, or miscellaneous, selected bydepression of one of three keys 12, as well as a key 10 for enteringsales in the grocery department. Bank 4 also comprises a PAID key 11.The amount of cash handed over or tendered by a customer is entered andregistered when the key 111 is depressed after the cash amount is postedby depressing the proper keys 6 of the amount key banks 5.

The mode-of-operation control bank 3 comprises a NO SALE" key 0, a SUM"key 7 and a SUBTOTAL key 8. The keys in banks 3 and 4 are motorized.That is, the depression of any one of them releases a machine run.

The keys in each individual bank are mutually interlocked so that onlyone of them can be depressed at a time and is released to return to itsinactive position when another key in the same bank is being actuated.The keys 6 to 12 in banks 3, 4 and 5 have their respective shanksprovided with a cross pin, such as the one shown at 13 in FIG. 3, whichacts upon a latching slider 20 assigned to the particular bank. Theslider 20 is biased by a spring 21 and is guided by pin-and-slot guides22, 23 so as to be disp-laceable in the alignment direction of the bank.The banks 3 and 4 are further provided with a transfer slider 24 whichhas a recess 26 engaged by a pusher rod 25 connected with a conventionalblocking device 80.

Located between the key banks 3, 4, 5 and the blocking device is themachine-run release shaft 77 (FIG. 3). Shaft 77 carries pins 78 whichcooperate with the respective latching sliders 20 of the individual keybanks 3, 4, 5. The release shaft 77 further carries a cam disc 79 whichcooperates with the blocking device 80 and controls the release of themachine. The two sliders 20 and 24 for each key bank have inclined edges28, 29 acted upon by the cross pins 13 of the respective keys 6 to 12.

Pivotally jointed with a pin 82 of the control cam 79 is a pusher rod 86which connects the cam disc 79 with an angular lever 87 pivoted on a pin88. Another pusher rod 89 connects the lever 87 with a release-controllever 90 rotatable about a pivot pin 91. The release lever 90 has ahook-shaped cam portion 92 which cooperates with a cam roller 93journalled on a pin 94 that is fastened to a spur gear 95. The spur gear95 is fastened on the main drive shaft (FIGS. 3, 4, 6) of the machineand is rigidly and coaxially joined with a cam 97 (FIG. 3). Cam 97carries a pivot pin 99 on which another roller 98 is revolvable.

The above-mentioned pivot pin 88 for the angular lever 87 also carries arotatable latching lever 101 which has a detent projection 102 engaginga catch of a slip clutch 104. The clutch elastically or yieldinglyconnects a spur gear 105 with another spur gear 106. Gears 105, 106 andclutch 104 are coaxially mounted on a comomn shaft 107.

The detent lever 101 is further provided with a semicircular stop 108and a cam-follower roller 109 rotatable on a journalling pin 110. Aspring 111 fastened to the clutch detent lever 101 by means of a hook112, tends to turn the detent lever 101 clockwise, but this is normallyprevented by a lobe of cam 79 engaged by the roller 109. A linking rod114 with respective pivot pins 115 and 116 at its ends, joins the detentlever 101 with a three-arm control lever 117 pivotally mounted on theabove-mentioned pivot pin 91 of the release-control lever 90. Thecontrol lever 117 has a latch arm 118 catching behind a shoulder 120 ofthe cam disc 97. Another arm 122 of lever 117 is located in the actionrange of the roller 98 journalled on cam 97.

The main shaft 100 of the machine is driven from an electric motor 123(FIG. 3). The electric circuit of the motor 123 (not shown) is switchedon and oil by a switch whose actuating member 124 has a lug protrudingthrough a slot 125 in linking rod 114. Shifting motion of the linkingrod 114 in the upward and downward direction actuates the switch, thusturning the electric motor 123 on and off. The motor has a pinion 126which drives the main shaft 100 (FIGS. 3, 4, 6) counterclockwise withrespect to FIG. 3 through a train of speed reduction gears 127, 128,129, 130, 106, 105 and 95.

As soon as a machine run is to be released by actuation of one of themode-control or adding-mechanism selector keys 7 to 12, the blockingdevice 80 releases the cam disc 79 in the known manner. The spring 81then turns the cam disc 79 counterclockwise (FIG. 3) and thereby turnsthe release control shaft 77 in the counterclockwise direction. Then thepins 78 place all latching sliders 20 to the latching position. Whilethe cam disc 79 is turning counterclockwise, the pusher rod 86 turns theangular lever 87 clockwise. The motion of lever 87 is transmitted by thelinking rod 89 to the release-control lever 90 and turns it clockwiseabout its pivot 91, thus placing the hook-shaped portion 92 into activeposition.

Furthermore, the spring 111 abruptly shifts the clutch detent lever 101out of catch 103 of clutch 104, since the lobe 113 of cam disc 79 nolonger retains the detent lever 101. The semicircular stop 8 on top ofthe detent lever 101 abuts against a stop i119, and the roller 109catches behind the lobe 113 of cam 79 in order to prevent returningmotion of the cam.

Now the clutch 10-4 is active. The linking rod 114 transmits thedisplacing motion of the clutch detent lever 101 to the control lever117 and, by means of the slot 125 and the lug on the switch-actuatingmember 124, simultaneously closes the energizing circuit for theelectric motor 123. The control lever 117 turns clockwise about pivot 91so that the arm 118 releases the main drive shaft 100 for rotation,whereas the arm 122 of control lever 117 shifts to its active position.Now the motor 123, acting through the spur gears 127 to 130, 105, 106,95, drives the main drive shaft 100 counterclockwise a full revolutionin order to perform a machine run.

When the main drive shaft 100 has nearly completed a full turn, theroller 98 hits against the arm 122 of control lever 117 and turns itcounterclockwise about pivot 91 so that the arm 118 approaches the camdisc 97 sufficiently to have the cam shoulder 120 abut against the latcharm 118. This stops the cam 97. Simultaneously, the linking rod 114transmits the counterclockwise rotation of control lever 117 to theclutch detent lever 101 while tensioning the spring 111. The detentlever 101 is thus turned back to the latching position, and the roller109 moves out of the range of engagement with cam 79. The main driveshaft 100, at this moment, continues to be driven, although the slot 125in link 114 has released the switch-actuating lug 124. As soon as theroller 93 reaches the latch portion 92 of the control lever 90, it turnsthe control lever 90 counterclockwise. The cam 79 is turned backclockwise by transmission members 89, 87, 86 to such an extent that therelease-control shaft 77 causes its pins 78 to shift the latching sliderto the left, thus releasing the previously depressed keys 6 to 12.

The shanks of the amount keys 6 (FIG. 4) act upon transfer(differential) mechanisms 131, one such mechanism being provided foreach of the respective digital key banks. The operation of each transfermechanism is then controlled in dependence upon which particular amountkey 6 (FIG. 4) in the bank is depressed at a time, for the purpose ofentering and registering a digital value corresponding to the onedesignated by the depressed key. The value transferring control iseffected by virtue of the fact that the lower end of the key shank 30,when the key is depressed and latched in depressed position, enters intothe path of rotary motion of a stop arm 165 so that a nose 165a of thearm, during counterclockwise arm travel, can abut against the shank 30.As will be explained, this arrests the arm 165 in an angular positionthat depends upon which particular key 6 in the bank has been actuated.The stop arm 165 is driven from the main shaft through a pair of cams190, 191 which cooperate with respective rollers 192 and 193 of a feelerlever 194 pivotally rotatable about a shaft .195. The feeler lever .194is provided with a gear segment 196 in meshing engagement with anothergear segment 175 which forms part of the transfer mechanism and isjoined, in a manner still to be described, with the stop arm 165, thusturning the stop arm clockwise about the axis of a journal bolt 171until the nose 165a abuts against the shank 30 of the depressed key 6.

The design and operation of the transfer, or differential 131 (FIG. 4)will now be described in detail, mainly with reference to FIG. 5. Theabove-mentioned journal bolt 171 on which the stop arm 165 (FIG. 4) andthe gear segment 175 (FIGS. 4, 5) are mounted, is fastened to a lateralwall 166 of the key-bank assembly by means of a nut 173 which has aguiding portion 172 (FIG. 5, extreme left). The stop arm 165 and thegear segment 175 are rotatably seated on a neck portion 170 of the bolt171 (FIG. 7, extreme right). As described, the gear segment 175 mesheswith a driving gear in order to impart a given amount of angular motionto the stop arm 165 of the transfer mechanism during each individualmachine run. The gear segment 175 is firmly joined with a finger-shapedarm 177. Fastened to the arm 177 is a dog pin 178 which passes throughan arcuate opening 179 of side wall 166 (FIGS. 5, 4) into a bore 180(FIG. 5) of a control cam 133. The cam 133 is rotatably mounted on thejournal bolt 171 together with a coaxial control member 132 and acoaxial gear segment 167.

The control cam 133 carries a rectangular stop lug 134 which cooperateswith a finger-shaped lug 135 of the control member 132. The cam contourof cam 133 has a V-shaped recess 136 and a cam curve 137 which radiallyascends from the axis of the journal bolt 171. The V-shaped recess 136of control cam 133 straddles a guide member 138 of a latch pawl 141. Thepawl 141 has a tapering extension 142 which can enter into catchrecesses 143 of an arresting segment 144 fastened to the side wall 166.The extension 142 merges with a cam curve 145 bordered and limited by alatch hook 146. The book 1 46 cooperates with a pin 148 (FIG. 5, right)which is fastened to the stop arm 165 and extends through anotherarcuate opening 147 in side wall 166.

The control member 132, carrying the pawl 141, is biased by a pullspring 149 (shown in two broken-apart parts) which is hung onto the lug135 of control member 132 and connected with the pin 148 of the stop arm165. The control member 132 further carries a bearing pin 160 whichpasses through a bore 151 of a cam segment 152. The cam segment 152 hasan arcuate opening 153 and a stop 154 which acts upon the edge 155 of agear segment 167. The segment 152 further has a cam curve 156 engaged bya roller 157. The roller 157 is journalled on a bifurcated latch lever158 pivotally rotatable about a pin 159 of the side wall 166. The latchlever 158 carries another roller 160 in follower engagement with theabove-mentioned cam curve 137. Fastened to the cam segment 152 is a pin161 engaging a radial, rectangular slot 162 of gear segment 167. Mountedon the finger-shaped arm 177 is a pin 178 which passes through thearcuate opening 179 of side wall 156 and engages the bore 180 of the camdisc 133, this disc being likewise coaxially rotatable on the journalbolt 171.

The above-described transfer or differential mechanism commences itsoperation as soon as a machine run is initiated by depression of acontrol key in bank 3 (FIGS. 1, 2). During each such machine run themain control shaft 100 (FIG. 3) performs a single full revolution.During such revolution, the gear segment (FIGS. 4, 5) of the transfermechanism is turned a given angle of rotation depending upon whichparticular amount key was previously depressed in the bank to which thetrans-

